Dual actuated spray control valve



Sept. 26, 1967 A. H. PINKE DUAL ACTUATED SPRAY CONTROL VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1965 INVENTOR.

Sept. 26, 1967 A. H PINKE DUAL ACTUATED SPRAY CONTROL VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1965 INVENTOR. 4060.57 P/l/K'E United States Patent 3,343,804 DUAL ACTUATED SPRAY CONTROL VALVE August H. Pinke, Hastings, Minn., assignor to H. D.

Hudson Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Jan. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 424,529 3 Claims. (Cl. 251-241) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dual actuated spray control valve is provided for a sprayer of the type having a liquid supply tank under pressure and a spray nozzle attachment for directing the desired spray pattern. The valve includes a rearwardly extending valve rod having coupled therewith a pivotal lever which may be pivoted one way or the other at the discretion of the operator to seat and unseat the valve.

This invention relates to an improved control valve for sprayers and the like and more particularly to a mechanism for permitting the valve to be actuated by manual manipulation of a control lever in any one of a number of directions selected at the discretion and convenience of the individual deploying the valve.

Although the present invention has -wide application in the control of fluid flow, the disclosure herein will be directed particularly to the liquid sprayer field which would encompass garden Sprayers, pest control Sprayers, etc. It is the opinion of many operatives and supposedly authoritative individuals in the commercial pest control field, for example, that thumb operation of a spray control valve provides for quicker action, more precise control of liquid volume emitted through the nozzle with somewhat less fatigue of the sprayer operator. Others in the same and difierent fields do not agree but insist that operation with the heel of the thumb or the palm of the hand is preferred.

With this divergence of opinion in mind as to the best manner of manipulating the control lever to actuate the valve, it is the primary purpose of this invention to satisfy the conflicting schools of thought by providing a dual acting spray control valve.

Another object is to provide a dual acting spray control valve in which the control lever may be pushed forwardly by the thumb of the hand holding the handle portion of the valve; or alternatively, the valve may be operated by shifting the lever rearwardly either by use of the thumb or by a squeezing action induced by the heel of the thumb or the palm of the hand.

These and other objects are most effectively attained through the provision of a thumb lever pivotally coupled with the outer end of a spray control valve stem. A coupling member is located at the pivotal end of the lever; and in accordance with the specific embodiment disclosed herein, is U-shaped in configuration while also being pivotally coupled with the rear end of the valve stem. This coupling member is engageable with surfaces of the body of the valve in providing a fulcrum about which selected movement of the lever will cause retraction of the valve stem. Thus, a projection along the forward edge of the coupling member is adapted to be engaged by the lever when the operator shifts the lever forwardly about its pivot point. This forward movement of the lever will result in forward surfaces of the coupling member coming into engagement with the valve body to thereby serve as a fulcrum for retracting the valve stem. A projection along the rear edge of the coupling member is adapted to be engaged upon reverse pivotal movement of the lever to thereby cause other portions of the forward surface of the coupling member to engage with the valve body in creating another fulcnum about which further pivotal movement of the lever will result in retraction of the valve stem. In this manner, a dual acting spray control valve is provided in which retraction of the valve stem may be accomplished by simply shifting the lever forwardly with the thumb of the hand or alternatively in a reverse direction so that the lever extends rearwardly and is adapted to be pivoted by the heel of the thumb or the palm of the hand for purposes of retracting the valve stem.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a somewhat preferred embodiment of this invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of a garden sprayer incorporating the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, elevational view of a dual actuated spray control valve incorporating the teachings of this invention shown associated with the handle portion of the sprayer and with the valve in a closed position, one of the valve actuating positions of the control lever being shown in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a similar view with the other valve actuating position of the control lever being shown in phantom;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2 showing the retraction of the valve stem upon shifting of the operating lever to one of its valve actuating positions;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the disposition of parts of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with certain parts broken away and removed and other parts being sectioned along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view showing the retraction of the valve stem by pivoting the lever forwardly as in FIG. 3.

In the drawings, a sprayer 10 is illustrated and may have particular application as a sprayer for spraying insecticides, pesticides or similar liquid media. This sprayer 10 includes a substantially cylindrical tank 12 having a sealed base 14 and closed top head 16. A mechanism 18 forms part of the tank for purposes of pressurizing the liquid contents. While under the influence of this internal pressure, the liquid is adapted to travel through a flexible hose 20 and through the hand operated spray control valve '22 and through the interposed handle 24. The liquid transmitted through the valve 22 flows through the lance 26 and out through the spray nozzle 28 to the selected target area in accordance with the de sired spray pattern and characteristics. The tank 12, if desired, may be carried by the sprayer operator to the desired location by means of the accommodating strap 30.

Referring now to the spray control valve 22, it will be appreciated that the valve body 32 is provided with the usual liquid passage 34 and valve seat 36 adapted to receive the valve member 38 for closing passage. A valve stem 40 extends rearwardly of the valve member 38 through the valve body 32 and outwardly therefrom. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear end of the valve stem 40 is adapted to be disposed in sliding engagement within a Teflon or the like bushing 42 mounted by an integral extension 44 of the valve body 32. In this manner, a thrustless assembly is most advantageously provided. A thumb control level 46 extends rearwardly of the valve stem 40 and conveniently pivoted on the rear end thereof. In this connection, the forward or pivot end of the lever 46 is bifurcated to define a pair of spaced arms 48 and 50 straddling both the extension 44 of the valve body and outer end of the valve stem 40. In addition, the forward arms 48 and 50 are pivotally mounted on the outer end of the valve stem 40 by means of a pivot pin 52 extending through bores in both the arms and valve stem. This pin 52 is retained in place by providing adequately sized heads at both of its ends with interposed washers to minimize friction if need be. The rear or free end of the lever 46 may be suitably contoured as shown to facilitate engagement therewith by the selected part of the hand.

A coupling member 56 is associated with the control lever 46 the outer end of the valve stem 40 and the Valve body 32 to obtain retraction of the valve 38 against the bias of its associated spring upon either forward pivotal movement of the lever (FIGS. 3 and 8) by the thumb of the hand grasping handle 24 or pivotal movement of the control lever 46 in a reverse direction towards the handle (FIGS. 2 and 4) by the heel of the thumb or palm of the hand grasping the handle. Under these circumstances, the coupling member 56 may embody the disclosed construction resembling a U having a pair of spaced legs 58 and 60 interconnected by an integral base 62. The outer or upper rear edge of each leg 58 and 60 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 64 and 66 respectively, both of which are adapted to engage the respective arms 48 and 50 of the control lever 46 when the latter is pivoted towards the handle 24. Each leg is provided with an opening through which the pivot pin 52 extends thereby permitting pivotal movement of the coupling member 56. With this in mind, the forward edge of the legs 58 and 68 are provided with surfaces adapted to engage the shoulders 68 and 70 provided on the valve body 32 to thereby permit a fulcrum for camming action between the shoulders and the coupling member 56 upon pivotal movement of the lever 46. In this connection, the forward edge of the legs 58 and 60 may be formed with outwardly extending flanges 72 and 74, re spectively, the forward faces of which are adapted to engage with the respective shoulders 68 and 70.

Thus, with particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, it will be seen that the forward face of the coupling member 56, as presented by the flanges 72 and 74, are adapted to engage with the associated surfaces of the shoulders 68 and 70- upon pivotal movement of the lever 46 towards the handle 24. The arms 48 and 50 of the lever 46 will eventually engage the rear flanges 64 and 66 of the coupling member 56 thereby permitting both to pivot about the pivot pin 52. When this occurs the coupling member 56 will be fulcrumed about the valve body shoulders 68 and 76 through the interengagement of the forward face of the respective flanges 72 and 74. This action will result in the valve stem 40 being forced or retracted rearwardly against the bias of the valve spring to, accordingly, unseat the valve member 38. Release of the lever 46 will permit the valve spring to take over and urge the valve member 38 into engagement with the valve seat 36 to prevent further flow of liquid through the valve passage 34.

As will be appreciated from the illustrations of FIGS. 3 and 8, pivotal movement of the lever 46 forwardly by the thumb of the hand grasping the handle 24 will result in similar retraction of the valve stem 40. In this instance, the arms 48 and 50 will eventually engage with the outwardly projecting flanges 72 and 74, respectively, permitting both members to pivot simultaneously about the pivot pin 52. When this occurs, the forward face of the flanges 72 and 74 will engage with the respective valve body shoulders 68 and 70 to provide a fulcruming action forcing the valve stem 40 rearwardly. Release of the control lever 46 will permit the spring to urge the valve member 38 into a closed position on the valve seat 36.

Thus, the aforenoted objects and advantages are most efiectively attained and a dual actuated lever operated spray control valve in accordance with the teachings of this invention forms a significant contribution to the art. An operator or user of the valve will be permitted to manipulate and manually control the valve through the lever 46 according to his desires whether it be through the pivotal movement of the lever forwardly by the thumb of his hand that grasps the handle 24 or the heel of this thumb or palm of his hand and consequent pivotal movement of the lever towards the handle 24. Under these circumstances, accurate and controlled spraying will be possible notwithstanding the particular belief of the operator on proper control lever manipulation. Although a single somewhat preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.

I claim.

1. A dual actuated fluid flow control valve for sprayers or the like comprising: a valve body adapted to form part of a fluid flow unit graspable by the hand of an operator having a passage therein for the fluid; means at one end of the body for coupling the valve to a spray nozzle; means at the other end of the body for coupling with a source of the liquid to be sprayed; a valve means shiftable between a closed and open position for closing said passage to stop the fluid flow and for opening said passage to stop the fluid flow and for opening said passage to permit the fluid flow, respectively; a valve stem extending from said valve means to the exterior of the valve body for permitting the actuation of valve means between the open and closed position; a lever for facilitating the actuation of the valve stem and consequently said valve means; coupling means coupling the lever to the valve stem and being engageable with surfaces of the valve body to permit the lever to be shifted in one direction by the thumb of the hand of the operator to actuate the valve stem and to be shifted in a second direction toactuate the valve stem by the heel of the thumb or palm of the hand of the operator; pivotal means provided for pivotally mounting the lever on the outer end of the valve stem; said coupling means including a memher also pivotal on the outer end of the valve stem by said pivotal means; said member having a first projecting surface engagea-ble with the lever upon pivoting of the lever in a substantially forward direction to actuate the valve stem and said member including a second projection engageable with the lever upon pivoting the latter in a reverse direction about the pivotal means to actuate the valve stem; and said member including a first surface engageable with the valve body to serve as a fulcrum to actuate the valve stem in a rearward direction upon pivotal movement of the lever in a forward direction about the pivotal means by the thumb of the operator; and said member having a second surface engageable with said body to serve as a fulcrum to actuate the valve stem in a rearward direction upon pivoting of the lever in a reverse direction about the pivotal means.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the lever includes a pivotal end and a free end, the latter 5 being engageable by the hand of the operator, the pivotal end of the lever being bifurcated and straddling the outer end of the valve stem, and said member being essentially U-shaped with each leg of the U straddling the outer end of the valve stem.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein said member includes a duplicate set of said projections on each of the legs of the U and a duplicate set of said surfaces on each of the legs of the U, said surfaces being disposed on the forward edge of the U and the first projection being disposed along the forward edge of the U whereas the second projection is disposed on the rear edge of the U.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,036,244 8/1912 Hooper 25124l 1,885,864 11/1932 Schmitt 251258 2,039,933 5/1936 Rupert 251-233 2,375,215 5/1945 Davis 251258 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,011,880 4/1952 France.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner. D. R. MATTHEWS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DUAL ACTUATED FLUID CONTROL VALVE FOR SPRAYERS OR THE LIKE COMPRISING: A VALVE BODY ADAPTED TO FORM PART OF A FLUID FLOW UNIT GRASPABLE BY THE HAND OF AN OPERATOR HAVING A PASSAGE THEREIN FOR THE FLUID; MEANS AT ONE END OF THE BODY FOR COUPLING THE VALVE TO A SPRAY NOZZLE; MEANS AT THE OTHER COUPLING THE VALVE TO A SPRAY WITH A SOURCE OF THE LIQUID TO BE SPRAYED; A VALVE MEANS SHIFTABLE BETWEEN A CLOSED AND OPEN POSITION FOR CLOSING SAID PASSAGE TO STOP THE FLUID FLOW AND FOR OPENING SAID PASSAGE TO STOP THE FLUID FLOW AND FOR OPENING SAID PASSAGE TO PERMIT THE FLUID FLOW, RESPECTIVELY; A VALVE STEM EXTENDING FROM SAID VALVE MEANS TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE VALVE BODY FOR PERMITTING THE ACTUATION OF VALVE MEANS BETWEEN THE OPEN AND CLOSED POSITION; A LEVER FOR FACILITATING THE ACTUATION OF THE VALVE STEM AND CONSEQUENTLY SAID VALVE MEANS; COUPLING MEANS COUPLING THE LEVER TO THE VALVE STEM AND BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SURFACE OF THE VALVE BODY TO PERMIT THE LEVER TO BE SHIFTED IN ONE DIRECTION BY THE THUMB OF THE HAND OF THE OPERATOR TO ACTUATE THE VALVE STEM AND TO BE SHIFTED IN A SECOND DIRECTION TO ACTUATE THE VALVE STEM BY THE HEEL OF THE THUMB OR PALM OF THE HAND OF THE OPERATOR; PIVOTAL MEANS PROVIDED FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE LEVER ON THE OUTER END OF THE VALVE STEM; SAID COUPLING MEANS INCLUDING A MEMBER ALSO PIVOTAL ON THE OUTER END OF THE VALVE STEM BY SAID PIVOTAL MEANS; SAID MEMBER HAVING A FIRST PROJECTING SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LEVER UPON PIVOTING OF THE LEVER IN SUBSTANTIALLY FORWARD DIRECTION TO ACTUATE THE VALVE STEM AND SAID MEMBER INCLUDING A SECOND PROJECTION ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LEVER UPON PIVOTING THE LATTER IN A REVERSE DIRECTION ABOUT THE PIVOTAL MEANS TO ACTUATE THE VALVE STEM; AND SAID MEMBER INCLUDING A FIRST SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE VALVE BODY TO SERVE AS A FULCURM TO ACTUATE THE VALVE STEM IN A REARWARD DIRECTION UPON PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE LEVER IN A REARWARD DIRECTION ABOUT THE PIVOTAL MEANS BY THE THUMB OF THE OPERATOR; AND SIAD MEMBER HAVING A SECOND SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID BODY TO SERVE AS A FULCRUM TO ACTUATE THE VALVE STEM IN A REARWARD DIRECTION UPON PIVOTING OF THE LEVER IN A REVERSE DIRECTION ABOUT THE PIVOTAL MEANS. 